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Little Village SchoolCasa Grande · K-12
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About Little Village School

Built by Casa Grande teachers, for Casa Grande kids.

We founded Little Village School after watching too many students struggle in rigid, one-size-fits-all classrooms. Here is what we believe, and the people behind it.

Illustration of a Sonoran Desert landscape with saguaro cacti and a winding path leading to a small school village

Our story

Every student can succeed with the right tools.

Some kids need extra time and focused help to master reading or math basics. Others move quickly and get bored waiting for the rest of the class. Many benefit from daily structure and hands-on guidance, while others blossom with flexible schedules and self-directed study. On top of that, modern family life, with work shifts, caregiving, and travel, doesn't always fit a standard school day.

That's why we created a flexible learning environment that combines self-paced digital coursework with dedicated, real-world teaching. Students access online lessons while joining us in person for small-group workshops, one-on-one tutoring, and active mentoring. Whether learning online, in person, or through a hybrid schedule, every child receives a high-quality education aligned with Arizona standards.

Education goes far beyond memorizing facts and passing tests. We build practical knowledge, confidence, independence, and critical thinking so our students thrive in college, careers, and everyday life.

Our mission

“To build student knowledge, confidence, independence, and executive functioning to develop future leaders.”

We saw that academic struggles often go hand in hand with low confidence and poor organizational habits. Little Village School is designed to rebuild confidence and teach students how to manage their time, set goals, and take pride in their work.

Our vision

“To develop a community of scholars who demonstrate academic mastery, possess confidence in their ability to learn, manage their learning with increasing independence, and are prepared to continue learning throughout their lives.”

Our graduates are confident, capable, self-directed learners prepared to succeed in college, careers, and life.

Our founders

Meet Mike and Shannon Hanrion.

Seasoned professional teachers and Casa Grande locals who have served students in our community since 2016.

Michael Hanrion

Co-Founder

B.A. Psychology · M.Ed.

Mike holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Master of Education. A Casa Grande local, he has taught in the community since 2016. His psychology background shapes how he teaches: understand how each child learns, catch skill gaps early, and build the confidence and executive-functioning habits students need to own their learning.

Shannon Hanrion

Co-Founder

B.A. Art

Shannon holds a degree in Art and has taught in Casa Grande since 2016. A Casa Grande local, she brings creativity and hands-on projects into her teaching so ideas become concrete, and she works directly with families to make enrollment simple and personal.

  • More than 27 years of combined classroom and administrative experience
  • Teaching Casa Grande students since 2016
  • Implemented and monitored Acellus-based digital learning using real student data
  • Science of Reading in practice, using Secret Stories to strengthen phonics and decoding

Accountability

We measure success through real results.

Our leadership team reviews student progress throughout the year so adjustments happen before the year ends. If students aren't making expected gains, we immediately adapt our teaching methods, curriculum, support systems, and staffing.

  • Student growth and achievement in English language arts and mathematics
  • Mastery of identified grade-level priority standards
  • Course completion, credit attainment, and on-time progress toward graduation
  • Attendance and instructional participation
  • Progress toward individualized academic goals and intervention plans
  • Growth in executive functioning: organization, planning, time management, and follow-through
  • Postsecondary readiness and successful transition planning

Ready to find the right path for your child?

Start your ESA enrollment online in a few minutes. Your progress saves automatically, and our team is here to help at every step.